620 Freedom Business Center Garden Spring ‘26 Update
It's our first growing season and there are lots of exciting updates for this spring. The new beds are all set, packed with nutrients and providing new habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators. For the past few weeks, all of the hardy greens have been growing impressively, getting ready to be harvested. In addition to the vibrant kale, collards, and chard that is in now, we have lots of herbs growing up that will help add flavor to any dish. In the upcoming weeks, we can look forward to all of the warm-weather crops being planted out, as first round of cucumber seedlings starting to peek up. We are so excited to share this abundance with you all at the monthly Harvest Tables. See you all there!
Meet Your 2026 Farmer-
Kaia!
Hello! My name is Kaia and I am so excited to be farming at your building! I am from California, where I studied horticulture and botany. Now I live in Philly and have been happily farming and working with plants for the past year. I joined Up Top a year ago and am so looking forward to another great season! I am particularly excited to grow some amazing cucumbers and basil that can be used in delicious summery dishes.
In This Spring
KALE
One of the most beloved crops in our gardens, kale thrives in cool weather and is planted before the last frost, giving it a head start on the season and making it one of the first crops ready for harvest.
Fun Facts About Kale
Taste & Texture: Flavor ranges from mild and sweet in young leaves to earthy and slightly bitter in mature ones- a quick massage with olive oil softens both the leaves and the bite.
Nutrition & Calories: Just one cup of raw kale delivers over 100% of the daily value for Vitamins K, A, and C, all for around 33 calories. It's also a surprising plant-based source of calcium.
Culinary Uses: Very versatile- can be eaten raw in salads, blended into smoothies, roasted into chips, or sautéed as a side. It holds up better to heat than most leafy greens.
Harvest: Kale is a "cut and come again" crop meaning that harvesting outer leaves regularly actually encourages the plant to keep producing all season long!
